Exploring the Hurdles in Thermomorphic Multicomponent Systems in the Rhodium-Catalyzed Multiphase Hydroformylation

Abstract

Ethylene carbonate is a rather uncommon solvent in chemistry, but it can be used as a low-viscosity, polar, aprotic solvent. Its most interesting feature is the melting point above room temperature, which allows for crystallization of the ethylene carbonate-based catalyst phase from the reaction solution. The dynamic phase behavior of such reaction systems was investigated in depth in this work. Ethylene carbonate and the hydroformylation product nonanal form a yield-dependent thermomorphic multicomponent system during the Rh/sulfoXantphos-catalyzed hydroformylation of 1-octene. This results in a limited conversion due to the yield-dependent precipitation of the polar catalyst. Thus, modifications to the system, such as the addition of decane to the organic phase or water to the catalyst phase, have been investigated to limit the precipitation of the catalyst.